Heading, Rangel added to Gilas Men pool as Gilas draft takes shape

Former Energen Pilipinas member Jordan Heading is back with the national team.

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—A former RP Youth Team member and his ABL teammate have been added to the Gilas Pilipinas Men pool as the special Gilas round for the upcoming PBA Draft takes its form.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas announced on Friday that former Alab Pilipinas members Jordan Heading and Tzaddy Rangel will be part of the Gilas Men pool.

Heading, a member of the Energen Pilipinas team that placed fourth in the 2011 FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship in Nha Trang, Vietnam, and Rangel, who played for National University in the UAAP before turning pro, already declared for the PBA Draft, which means they are eligible to be drafted in the special Gilas round.

Also, SBP president Al Panlilio said that Jaydee Tungcab, who was part of Gilas Men in the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in Manama, Bahrain, will stay as a Gilas Men pool member until the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Like Heading and Rangel, Tungcab also declared for the PBA Draft.

“The SBP, as always, is thankful to the PBA for its cooperation as we build towards the Philippines’ hosting of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup with Japan and Indonesia,” Panlilio said. “We were able to secure five players from the Gilas Draft in 2019 and we’re happy to welcome three additional talents in Jordan Heading, Tzaddy Rangel, and Jaydee Tungcab.”

He added, “We thank the three for their trust and commitment to the program. Over a short span, we’ve seen the development of the program and of the players’ individual talents as well and we’re confident that the upcoming Gilas draftees will benefit greatly under Program Director Tab Baldwin and his outstanding staff of coaches.”

Following an agreement made during the PBA board meeting earlier in the week, the SBP is eyeing three to five draftees for the Gilas round.

This means Heading, Rangel, and Tungcab have essentially locked in Top 3 spots in the draft assuming the SBP settles for the minimum. This despite the modest expectations about them according to the early mock drafts.

In spite of getting formally drafted to the PBA, Heading, Rangel, and Tungcab will remain with Gilas Men until the SBP decides to release them to the teams that would select each of them.

This means they could end up playing for Gilas Men in the Philippine Cup if the SBP accepts the guest team invite.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno